When you think of JV (joint venture) partners, you usually think of partners endorsing each other’s products for a commission. However, you can also use joint ventures to get new subscribers.
Here are 5 list-building JV ideas…
1. Endorse each other.
Here’s the most straightforward way to use JVs to build your list. Simply endorse your partner’s newsletter in your newsletter or on your blog, and your partner does the same for you.
You may post each other’s squeeze page links:
- In your newsletters.
- On your blogs.
- On your product thank you pages.
- On your subscription confirmation pages.
- In your autoresponder series.
- On postcards that you send out with physical shipments.
2. Trade bonus products or subscriber freebies.
Another way to use JVs to build your list is to create a unique and exclusive product for your partner that he or she can use as a bonus product or as a free gift for subscribers. Naturally, your free product should include links to your newsletter squeeze page.
Tip: To encourage your partner to distribute the report or other product, change the links in the report to your partner’s affiliate links. That way he or she gets a chance to earn a backend income while you get to build your list!
3. Swap blog posts or newsletter articles.
You can build your list simply by trading content. Just agree to be a guest author on each other’s respective blogs or in your newsletters. At the end of your article, create a call to action to drive readers to your newsletter sign-up page.
Example: “To discover ten more ways to build your list, visit [your link] – be sure to pick up your free list building guide!”
4. Do a newsletter co-op.
You can do this one with one or more JV partners. On your newsletter sign up page, give your new subscribers a chance to join your partner’s newsletter as well. Likewise, your partners give their subscribers the option to co-register for your newsletter with just one click.
Tip: You’ll get more subscriptions if people can subscribe simply by checking a checkbox at the same time that they’re subscribing for the main newsletter. Alternatively, you can swap newsletter endorsements on your confirmation pages or even in your welcoming emails.
5. Create a product together.
Finally, you can create a product with one or more of your JV partners. Dr. Jeanette Cates and I have done this several times, including our course on how to do your own Joint Venture’s, at JVsMadeSimple.
This can be a free or paid product, it doesn’t matter – your goal is to include your links in the product as a means of driving traffic to your optin page.
Examples:
- You can write an ebook or report together.
- You can do a teleseminar together – not only will you be able to sell or give away access to the live call, you’ll also have the recordings to sell or give away.
- You can create a video together (works best if you live near each other or if you can meet in a hotel room at a niche event).
- You can put on a niche event together, such as a weekend workshop. Here again you’ll have the recordings to sell or give away.
In summary: Joint ventures are some of the best ways to build your list. And that’s because having an influential third party endorse you and your newsletter is a powerful form of social proof.
I am always amazed at your skill, Connie, to take something such as Joint ventures, that could be tear- your-hair-out complicated, so wonderfully simple. Much appreciation for your work. Ruthan
Great tips Connie and definitely something I haven’t done enough.
One of my big stumbling blocks is that in certain niches I’m pretty new to the game and don’t have a lot of subscribers or traffic yet. Do you have any suggestions on how to approach this if you’re new and you still want to JV with someone that’s quite a bit ahead of the game?
Thanks,
Susanne
Susanne – the way I got started with JV’s was by showing the more experienced people that I was willing to work hard and learn whatever I needed in order to be a valuable partner. This forced me to step up my game and improve my skills.
Collaboration has, by far, been the #1 driving force in my online success.
Whether it’s partnerships, JVs, working with affiliates, or just looking for those win-win scenarios as they appear – it all adds up to dollars.
Plus, it’s so much more FUN working with other people and profiting together than to find yourself sitting in a room like Ebeneezer Scrooge, counting your piles of money and saying “mine, mine, mine”… all alone.
Great post.
Nicole – yes, collaborating makes this business more fun and more profitable. I agree with you completely on this. We can truly leverage the power of the Internet by joining forces with like-minded entrepreneurs.